Roy Hodgson has defended his brief playing career in South Africa during the
apartheid boycott by insisting he took the decision purely for “footballing
reasons”.

Having been confirmed as England manager on Tuesday, Hodgson was surprisingly forced to address his year-long spell with Berea Park between 1973 and 1974, at the height of the apartheid regime in the country.

“I never coached in South Africa.” Hodgson said.

“I went to play there in 1973 and 1974. I’ve got to admit I was young at the time, and went there purely for football reasons. I was desperate to play football on a full-time basis.

“I didn’t give the political system much thought. It did not play any part in my decision.”